Congratulations! It's an Android! | openCards

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Congratulations! It's an Android!

    Submitted by Telak on Thu, 10/26/2006 - 22:00

    (2) • Lal, Beloved

    Non-aligned Non-Aligned icon Personnel Personnel of Android species.
    Red Dot Programming  
    While this personnel is attempting a mission, you may reveal three Androids from hand to make her attributes +4 and gain any two skills until the end of the turn.
    INTEGRITY: 5   CUNNING: 5   STRENGTH: 5

    "What is my purpose?... My function? My reason for being?"

    Characteristics: Non-Aligned "affiliation", enhance your personnel attributes (this card), enhance your skills (this card), Android "species".
    Requires: Android "species".

    Card logging info: Logged by openCards team at Jan 1st, 2008.
     

    		Lal, Beloved

    This Card-Review article was written by openCards user RedDwarf and was published first on "Decipher's Website (decipher.com)".

    D a t a ' s "daughter" may not be able to overcome any dilemma, but she can help you ease past a lot of them. By revealing three Androids from hand, Lal, Beloved can boost her attributes by four, and gain any two skills, until the end of the turn.

    My Telepathic skill tells me you're thinking: Surely, Lal will replace the Soong Type Android in Android decks. After extensive research, I can answer: Probably not... and don't call me Shirley. If anything, Lal will combine with the Soong Type Android to make Android decks even harder to stop with dilemmas. You may also be thinking: The major drawback to using Lal is that she will be killed at the end of the turn. But, I can counter that argument with the Emergency Transport Unit. By including one piece of equipment, you can use Lal whenever you need her, and not be worried about saving her for special situations.

    Lal does have some drawbacks. You just have to look rather closely to find them. With the exception of the skill-less Soong Type Android, every Android and every other personnel usually included in an Android deck, such as Ira Graves and Noonien Soong, has either Geology or Programming. This means that Picking up the Pieces could stop an Android deck by itself. Lal's cost of two counters could also be a hindrance if your opponent likes to play In Training. A mission attempt including Lal, B-4 and multiple copies of Soong Type Android will mean the dilemma is much more effective in stopping your personnel. Just remember to use Ira Graves' ability wisely.

    The final drawback to point out is that Lal doesn't have a ship staffing icon. You may be toying with the idea of a Lal/B-4/Soong Type Android/Ira Graves speed deck, attempting Eliminate Harvesters, Feldomite Rush and Treat Plague Ship, but you'd have a little trouble staffing a ship with those four personnel. (You'd also have trouble scoring 100 points to win the game, but that's beside the point.)

    Once Lal, Beloved hits the streets, virtually every skill-based dilemma will become a risk if you're facing an Android deck. What is Lal's purpose? Her function? Her reason for being? Lal is a dilemma buster. Plain and simple.